Psych CASC / OSCE · Psychotherapy
Explain schema therapy and negotiate structured care — CASC communication station
MRCPsych/FRANZCP-style CASC: engage a person seeking schema therapy, explain schemas/modes simply, address partial programmes honestly, and collaborate on immediate safety and structured care.
On this page
Study tools
Target exams
FRANZCPMRCPsychABPNMD-DNB
Prompt
A young adult with recurrent self-harm after breakups and a deep sense of being 'damaged' wants 'real schema therapy now'. You must validate, explain EMS and modes in plain language, set realistic expectations about long specialised programmes and waitlists, co-create a safety-focused plan, and avoid jargon piles or cure promises.
Station brief
Format. Communication station, approximately 7–10 minutes active time after reading. You are the psychiatry registrar in community mental health. [1]
Candidate instructions. The person wants schema therapy. Establish rapport and validate the request. Explain early maladaptive schemas and modes in plain language. If full ST is waitlisted, explain structured care alternatives without nihilism. Check current self-harm risk briefly and agree a safety net. Avoid jargon piles and false promises. [1][3][5]
References6ShowHide
- [1]Giesen-Bloo J, van Dyck R, Spinhoven P, et al. Outpatient psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder: randomized trial of schema-focused therapy vs transference-focused psychotherapy Arch Gen Psychiatry, 2006.PMID 16754838
- [2]Bamelis LL, Evers SM, Spinhoven P, Arntz A Results of a multicenter randomized controlled trial of the clinical effectiveness of schema therapy for personality disorders Am J Psychiatry, 2014.PMID 24322378
- [3]Nadort M, Arntz A, Smit JH, et al. Implementation of outpatient schema therapy for borderline personality disorder with versus without crisis support by the therapist outside office hours: A randomized trial Behav Res Ther, 2009.PMID 19698939
- [4]Tan YM, Lee CW, Averbeck LE, et al. Schema therapy for borderline personality disorder: A qualitative study of patients' perceptions PLoS One, 2018.PMID 30462650
- [5]Assmann N, Schaich A, Arntz A, et al. The Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Compared to Schema Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial Psychother Psychosom, 2024.PMID 38986457
- [6]Cristea IA, Gentili C, Cotet CD, et al. Efficacy of Psychotherapies for Borderline Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis JAMA Psychiatry, 2017.PMID 28249086